Denaby Utd – Denaby 3 Grimsby 2 – Only 1 defeat in 6 matches

September 1955

South Yorkshire Times September 10, 1955

A Truly Flying Start to The Midland League Season
Denaby United Have Been Beaton in Only One of Their Six Matches.

Denaby United 3; Grimsby Town Reserves 2

In their Midland League dual at Tickhill square on Saturday night, Denaby mortally wounded the “Mariners” with a first minute goal. Although they did not score again for 50 minutes, they “kept the iron hot” – as one spectator put it – and persistently worried the visitors.

This score does not truly reflect Denaby’s superiority, for the visitors first goal came unexpectedly after consistent home attacks, and their second came in the closing stage, “do or die” bid.

One must bear in mind that a first minute goal is a terrific moral booster, but Denaby took control from the start and never looked like losing their grip, although there were one or two light lapses by the halfback line when they persisted in getting rid of the ball as soon as they received it, instead of holding it, finding a man, and starting the attack move then.

However, these were minor faults compared with the marks on the credit side, and Secretary Manager Mr Matt Taylor must be congratulating himself on his close reason signing of inside left Penistonian Brian Poulson.

Shock Goal

Not only did Brian score that 62nd goal, but he also scored that much talked about goal in the second half, which gave Denaby the lead again. Standing with his back to the Grimsby goal mouth, he hit a hip high ball over his head and over keeper Tinsley’s as well. The Grimsby defenders just stood and gaped as this shock goal registered home.

Back to the start. Denaby had a bright sun behind them and Grimsby kicked off. But no sooner had centre forward Stokes passed to his inside right than Poulson pounced on the ball, passed to Duggan who went right through to see Tinsley dive at his feet.

Seconds later the ball was back in the visitors goal area and Poulson left no doubt with his scoring effort.

Grimsby has several ineffective raiding movements and all the running was coming from the go getting Denaby forwards with shots from Holmes and Poulson. Play quietened down somewhat after the hectic start but the feature was the 11 corners Denaby forced during the first half. Many of these were poorly taken and no scoring resulted from them.

In the sole Grimsby attack, which caught the home defence on the wrong foot, Faulkner broke through and equalised after 38 minuites.

Grimsby ‘keeper Tinsley was kept busy on the resumption, in particular with one save from Duggan, who kept “stopper.” Player continually on his toes. In the 52nd minute Poulson scored with his back lob after receiving the ball from Gillot.

Denaby continued to force the pace and, as with all sides playing well, they seem to have that 12th man in the side, for no matter which Grimsby player had the ball, there was always a “red shirt” ready to tackle him. Gillott, Barnes and Cooper were notable in the home defence although every defender carried their weight.

On the 72nd minute Ron Duggan put Denaby further ahead when he pushed the ball over the line after a goalmouth scramble. Holmes received the ball from Jones and the tempo quickened in the closing minutes especially after Lord had back headed the victors.

The Denaby defence withstood all attacks and the team came off the field with loud applause from the 1,300 spectators